Aida’s Chicken – A Taste of Authentic Ilonggo Cuisine

If you are like me who was born and raised in Negros and have been fed with Ilonggo cuisine for more than half of my lifetime, you will be able to relate with my desire to always go for the types of cooking and food that I grew up with.

Although I have been living in Metro Manila for more than a decade now, I still cannot change the default preferences of my palate. That is, to go for authentic Ilonggo cuisine.

Because of this, I have discovered a lot of Ilonggo restaurants and well-known chefs who are Ilonggos in Metro Manila. I have been attracted to outlets claiming that they serve authentic Ilonggo chicken “inasal” and “kansi,” but honestly, only a few of them can really satisfy my craving. It is like a famous quote of Cassandra Clare: “They say time heals all wounds, but that presumes that the source of the grief is finite.” The feeling of longing for the real authentic one still there.

Chicken Inasal

Cansi

Lately, I discovered that Bacolod City’s Aida’s Chicken has a branch in Makati Square. It serves a bowl of “cansi,” a beef broth soured by a fruit called “batwan.” It also has chicken paa or petso “inasal” marinated with “calamansi,” mixed with “tuba” (Visayan vinegar), annatto and then grilled over hot coals or “uling” while basted with the marinade or chicken oil. Overall, I am glad that it has remained true to the Bacolod City quality that it has shown.

Aida’s Chicken in Manukan country in Bacolod is one of the places on my list to always visit when I am in Negros. Every time my family in Negros wants us to visit us here, “batwan” has always been my “memento” wish because I also cook “cansi” at home, since my wife is also an Ilonggo.

By the way, if you miss ”Kinilaw na tangigue, gurayan or dilis” and “Tinolang isda” soured by tomatoes and “batwan,” it also has these in Makati Square branch. These are reasons enough to visit the place. I think it also serves a variety of other dishes on their menu, most of which are authentic Illonggo.

Aida’s Chicken Menu

Eating at Aida’s Chicken brings me to Negros, with all of the paintings hung on its restaurant wall, painted with some well-known Ilonggo artists which I’ve known some of them personally like Alvarado and Co.

About the author /

Kit is a self-taught photographer who possesses an insatiable desire to capture and freeze through his lens remarkable moments that revolve around travel, food, sports and special events.
A registered nurse by profession, Kit traces back his passion for visual media when his camera has become his constant companion to his various medical missions and travels.
His photographic works can be viewed at the TheSideTripper.com and Imahe.net, website he established that feature collections of photographs and blogs about the many travel and food tripping adventures of his family and friends.
He also undertakes freelance assignments for online and print publications, most recently at Motorcycle Magazine where he is a contributor.
He may be reached at admin@thesidetripper.com.

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